It sounds like a big ask to be prepared for everything, especially when you have kids, you never know what could happen each day; but still, you must do your best to go on! On top of all of that, the lockdown is making it much harder for all of us to stay on top of everything. You can’t just get on with things and go about your day, and you have to make sure you’re following restriction rules – all the while having your kids at home all day, every day!
So what can you do to help yourself keep on top of everything?
Figure out the essentials
So you’ve got a lot on your plate and it’s starting to look like too much for you to handle, but this is no time for panic. It’s time to take a step back for a moment to look at the things that you absolutely need to take care of, and what can go on the back burner for a little bit while you handle everything else. Staying on top of everything isn’t about taking everything on at once, that’s how you burn yourself out. It’s about learning to handle everything bit by bit, helping yourself get used to things so that you can be ready to take on more. If you find out what you need to tackle initially, you can slowly prepare to take on the rest of your responsibilities as you go!
Accept and reinforce
In the event that you’re still feeling overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities that you have to take care of, it’s time to start supporting yourself mentally. You can do anything you put your mind to, and if it’s inevitable it’s best to accept how things are and reinforce the idea that you can do it. It can be a pill too large to swallow at first, doing what needs to be done is sometimes the only option you have, and you can’t run from it! If you’re stuck at home during the lockdown, with kids home too, that can be too much for anyone to handle at first glance.
Having reminders
Running a busy schedule while looking after multiple people can often lead to forgetting to meet multiple goals throughout the day, which will likely add to the stress. Take some time to yourself to make note of everything that you need to be keeping up with, whether it’s daily, every other day, or every week. There are a lot of ways you can remind yourself of these throughout the day to help make sure that you don’t forget. Getting caught out and realizing that you didn’t manage to get out of the house to get things for dinner can be a tipping point at the end of a tough day, and you can completely avoid that if you set yourself a way to keep reminding!
A lot of people rely on their phones in times like these, as there is a whole range of apps you can use to remind you at certain times throughout the day. Even something as simple as setting an alarm can be enough of a reminder to keep you on top of things – so it’s definitely worth looking into if you’re struggling to stay in control!
Stock up for emergencies
Being on the move all the time means that you’re running short on time as is, and you don’t want to be left in the dark when an emergency arises! Making sure that you have plenty of things like medicine, or substitute methods of lighting your house if the power went out can help to give you that peace of mind! Knowing that you have everything you need for an emergency can turn panic into a quickly solved problem! If you’ve ever dealt with a power outage without any form of substitute lighting, you’ll likely know how inconvenient it can be to get on with things for the rest of the night. Especially during the winter, when the evenings are darker – the whole night becomes a write-off!
When you have kids, an emergency can be hiding around the corner at any moment waiting to jump out on you! Children are clumsy, and their immune systems can be weak, meaning that you’ll want to know how to deal with things as they come. Just making sure that you have some extra bandages, or knowing what you should do if they get sick can be a game-changer! For example, this complete guide for baby acne can be helpful, especially when it’s best to keep your baby inside – going to visit your doctor can be a huge risk at this time, and unnecessary when you know what to do.
Problem solve, not panic
When the stress is building up day-by-day, it can be hard to keep yourself together, and emotions can become difficult to manage. It’s in times like these that it’s especially important to switch your mindset into problem-solving. When something happens, you want your first thoughts to be about what you can do to make it better, and what else can be done to make the situation easier for you. It’s a lot easier said than done, but it’s a good habit to pick up for any situation, whether you’re stuck at home with a house full of kids, or you’re out at work!
Find alternative solutions to save time
While it can be more expensive to try to make things more convenient to deal with, if it helps you keep on top of things every day and reduces stress, it can be a worthy investment for you. This can be things like ordering your groceries instead of setting the time aside to go out and get them yourself. Some people have their medication delivered to them too, which is something that you likely cannot miss no matter what! It can save you a lot of time to have things delivered, and if time isn’t something you have much of then it’s a priceless investment!
Starting a routine
Getting a routine going can be very difficult, but if you’re looking to make sure things get done efficiently and on time, then putting yourself on a new routine can help you significantly. Having your priorities in order, and making sure to have time for yourself each day is a great way to reduce stress while making sure that you’re able to get things done. It’s important to be strict with yourself while rewarding yourself enough to keep the motivation high.
Like mentioned before, it’s no good trying to take on a lot of things at once, so if you’re trying to start a routine, remember to be realistic with it. Make sure that you take on what you’re capable of each day. For example, allow yourself extra time to get things done in your routine, that way you can figure out how long it takes you to get things done realistically, rather than making your life more stressful with a routine that you can’t handle.
Fighting stress has always been something that people have difficulty fighting every day, and now it’s become more difficult for everyone due to the lockdown, it’s become even more important to find ways to fight it. Too much stress is bad for mental health, and you don’t want to hold onto it for too long before you find ways to handle things. If you can’t adapt to things that you find stressful, then finding ways that you can deal with it, or lessen the load is a must.
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Note: This is a collaborative article. Updated 2026.
